Yes, that’s the hole where my sewing machine should be. Sadly it is being repaired at the dealer’s. Even worse, their turnaround time is (gulp) four and a half weeks.

That takes me to the middle of May, when I won’t be in Rhode Island. So I begged them to fix it before May 8 or I would have to take the machine home and try again the fall. They said they would try.

What to do, what to do…

I cleaned my office (aka sewing room). I baked a coffeecake. Cleaned out my sock drawer. Organized two wire bins of medications and first aid supplies. Dug out summer clothes. Subscribed to Netflix. Went to the car wash. Filled two bags of clothes to donate. Cleaned out jars to donate. Sorted canning jars…to donate. I even went through my tablecloth collection and said goodbye to the ones I never use, like the slippery polyester varieties and the ratty old lace tablecloth I bought almost 55 years ago with a wedding gift certificate.

Banjo Man was very sad for me. He is not used to me pacing around. I like projects. I like keeping busy. I “stress sew” to keep from falling apart from whatever is going on, and you know there has been a lot going on. I don’t have a lot of energy these days, but I definitely need things to keep me busy. Driving and shopping and gallivanting have not been options.

Two friends offered to loan me their sewing machines, but I had to say no, thank you, because these machines were terribly heavy. No one should have hauled them to the house just because I was suffering quilting withdrawal. Over Easter dinner, another friend offered her portable Janome machine. And, after politely hesitating for about three seconds, I gratefully said, “Yes, yes, yes!!”

I have to admit, daily life is much more pleasant now that I am creating a red snowball quilt. It won’t be finished–not even close–before we leave for the lake, but I don’t care. I am working on 104 blocks and happy to stitch away whenever the mood strikes.

Banjo Man is happy for me and has stopped shooting me concerned looks.

But he sure liked the coffeecake.